Mop-Up Dutyhttp://mopupduty.com
Cleaning up the mess other sites leave behindMon, 21 May 2018 11:22:28 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.11Checking In on the Toronto Blue Jayshttp://mopupduty.com/checking-in-on-the-toronto-blue-jays-052018/
http://mopupduty.com/checking-in-on-the-toronto-blue-jays-052018/#respondMon, 21 May 2018 00:08:52 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=14616With a little more than a quarter of the season behind us, it’s a good time to check the pulse of this Blue Jays team – to have a closer look at where they are, how they got to this point, and where they go from here.

Pitching

Before the season started, I projected what the opening day lineup would be and made a few predictions as to what would happen over the course of the season. Overall, I believed that this was a .500 level team and they have performed to my expectations in that regard, currently hovering at that mark. However, I thought it would be the strength of the starting rotation that would keep them in games. The opposite has turned out to be true, as is usually the case in baseball. The Blue Jays starting rotation is ranked 14th of 15 teams in the American League in ERA and struggles collectively to get past the 5th inning.

While I was concerned that the Blue Jays’ patchwork bullpen would blow leads late in games, manager John Gibbons has deftly managed this rag-tag group, extracting more value out of them than anyone could have predicted. While the Jays’ relief corps currently sit second in the American League in ERA, this level of performance is unsustainable. With Roberto Osuna on administrative leave, the back-end of the bullpen has been leaned on heavily to perform in high-leverage situations. As of Sunday morning, Tyler Clippard was one back of MLB’s leader in appearances. Ryan Tepera is one game behind him. Seung Hwan Oh and John Axford are two and three games behind, respectively. These guys are getting fatigued. When that happens, you’ll see what John Axford and Tyler Clippard did vs. Oakland much more frequently.

The infield

Concerned about the ability of Diaz and Ngoepe to perform, I thought we would see Lourdes Gurriel Jr at the Major League level if one of them faltered. And that’s exactly what happened. Although Gurriel Jr. is an improvement on Ngoepe, it is clear he has much more development ahead of him. Gurriel’s footwork at shortstop needs to be improved, and his selectivity at the plate deteriorated with each passing game. He has a great foundation to build on – he’s a fine athlete with a cannon of an arm – he just needs more repetitions and coaching at the lower levels where the spotlight isn’t so bright.

Devon Travis struggled out of the gate, just like he did in 2017. This time he wasn’t able to work his way through, and was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo. Unfortunately for Travis, Yangervis Solarte has proven to be a capable player at second base and has been quite productive offensively – all while injecting this lineup with much-needed passion.

With Troy Tulowitzki on his way back from bone-spur surgery in the near (?) future, Travis’s stay at Triple-A could be an extended one.

The outfield

With injuries to Randal Grichuk, Curtis Granderson, and Steve Pearce, we’ve seen nearly the entirety of the Blue Jays’ substantial outfield depth play at some point at the Rogers Centre thus far. This includes Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Alford, Dwight Smith Jr., and Dalton Pompey. At this point, it looks like the best outfield configuration the Blue Jays can field has Curtis Grandson and Steve Pearce platooning in left field, Kevin Pillar in centre field, and the enigmatic Teoscar Hernandez in right field. While Randal Grichuk has had an absolutely abysmal season thus far, I’m not convinced that he’s shown us the type of player he really can be.

Perhaps Randall Grichuk is still dealing with a lingering ribcage injury. They can take months to heal. It easily explains why he can’t catch up to above-average fastballs.

You may recall Grichuk missed a few spring training games due to a ribcage injury. Speaking from experience, ribcage injuries can linger for a very, very long time. Though it’s not enough to keep you out of the game, ribcage injuries impact the ability to perform baseball activities considerably. Hopefully the time Grichuk has spent on the disabled list for an unrelated knee sprain will have allowed him to fully heal from the ribcage issue. When Grichuk is activated from the DL and Steve Pearce rejoins the team, Hernandez will be optioned to Buffalo. Probably.

Starting pitching depth

There’s talk of stretching out Joe Biagini and leaving him in Buffalo to be the Blue Jays de-facto backup starter. This is a bad idea. Biagini is terrible in the role of a starting pitcher and is much more effective pitching out of the bullpen.

That talk sadly turned out to be true: Joe Biagini became the team’s de-facto sixth starter, and his performance was in line with my low expectations. It’s time to pull the plug on this failed experiment and place Biagini in position where he can succeed. The Blue Jays are currently without a reliever in the bullpen who can comfortably pitch multiple innings in a single appearance. Biagini would fit quite nicely in this role.

As for who takes Biagini’s place as the “sixth starter,” my choice is Deck McGuire. The former first round draft pick of the Blue Jays has had a career renaissance of late. In 2016, while pitching in Double-A, Deck McGuire adopted an aggressive, attack early and attack often approach. It paid off for him as he led the league in innings pitched, starts, strikeouts, and finished with an ERA of 2.79. McGuire parlayed his newfound success into an impressive late-season cup of coffee with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. After signing with the Blue Jays in the off-season, McGuire arrived at spring training feeling like he had “unfinished business.” In 10 innings pitched, McGuire didn’t allow a single earned run while striking out 13. Although spring training stats are to be taken with a grain of salt, when a guy is actively competing for a job, I place a little more weight in his performance. Assigned to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the season, McGuire picked up where he left off. In five starts for the Bisons, McGuire posted a 2.70 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 30 innings. To me, McGuire has earned the shot because he’s performed consistently for more than a year now. The Blue Jays owe it to themselves to see what they have in McGuire. After all, it’s not like they’re unfamiliar with the concept of “late bloomer.”

Going forward

The problem with being a .500 team is this: while you’re never really in the playoff hunt, you’re never really out of it either. The Blue Jays have been within striking distance of the second wild card spot all season, hovering between three and five games back. This gives fans and players a false sense of hope when it comes to postseason aspirations. In order for the Blue Jays to nail down a wild card spot, the following things need to happen:

Josh Donaldson regains his form and plays at the level of his 2015 & 2016 seasons. He’s the best player on the team and he needs to produce like it.

Marcus Stroman returns from injury and pitches the way he did last season.

Roberto Osuna returns from administrative leave in the very near future.

Randal Grichuk improves upon his 2017 season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Russell Martin gets his OBP past the .320 mark.

Troy Tulowitzki, at the very least, performs at the level of his 2016 season. Preferably his 2015 season. He also can’t be a cinder block at a premium defensive position.

J.A. Happ and Marco Estrada remain healthy for the rest of the season.

If all of these things were to occur, a late-summer call-up of Vlad Guerrero Jr. would be warranted. While the younger Vlady continues to have defensive kinks that need to be ironed out, he is clearly a force of nature with the bat. In this scenario, the needs of the team take precedence over the needs of the individual player. Kendrys Morales is jettisoned to the refuse bin and Vlad Guerrero Jr. becomes the team’s full-time designated hitter. The lineup is as follows:

Curtis Granderson LF

Josh Donaldson 3B

Justin Smoak 1B

Yangervis Solarte 2B

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. DH

Troy Tulowitzki SS

Teoscar Hernandez/Randal Grichuk RF

Russell Martin C

Kevin Pillar CF

The bench consists of Aledmys Diaz, Steve Pearce, Luke Maile, and either Hernandez or Grichuk

It should be clear to most that the likelihood of this happening is slim to none. Does anyone feel confident that this team can go toe-to-toe in a seven game series against the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, or Astros? Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro once said, “As we deliberate on the different strategies and the different directions to go, we feel an obligation to try to field a contending, competitive team and at such a time we feel that is not possible, we will pivot.”

Of course, the main reason a team would be reluctant to pivot is to avoid alienating the team’s fanbase. However, Blue Jays fans have already made it clear that they either don’t believe in this team or they don’t want to pay the higher cost of tickets… or both:

#BlueJays are averaging 25,970 fans per game in 2018, down from an average of 37,471 last season.

Through 23 games, that's already over a quarter-million fewer fans through the gates at Rogers Centre. It's the biggest attendance dip in MLB.https://t.co/vauurNJ8un

On the Sunday of a long Victoria Day weekend, the Blue Jays were barely able to attract 30,000 fans.

So why bother with the false pretenses? It’s time to sell… err, “pivot.”

It’s time to get rid of everyone we know and love to make way for new beginnings. Say goodbye to Justin Smoak, Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson, Kevin Pillar, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada, Steve Pearce, Russell Martin, Kendrys Morales, and Curtis Granderson. If done right, this is roughly what the Blue Jays lineup should look like in September.

Devon Travis 2B

Anthony Alford LF

Yangervis Solarte 3B

Teoscar Hernandez RF

Randal Grichuk CF

Kendrys Morales 1B (it’s unlikely the Blue Jays will be able to move him, but if they do, Rowdy Tellez will slot in here and it will be ugly)

Of course, the Blue Jays won’t be able to trade away all of their assets in one go. The lineup won’t be this young and inexperienced. However, directionally, this is what you can expect. It will be reminiscent of the J.P. Ricciardi days. Tuesday night games will attract between 7,000 – 8,000 fans. Although it will be painful, it will be exciting to watch the emergence of top prospects Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Alford, Bo Bichette, and other newly-acquired impact talent in 2019. By maximizing the value of the current roster, the Blue Jays will set themselves up for years of success in future years. No longer will there be a small “window of opportunity” to contend. With these core pieces in place, the Blue Jays have a chance to create a dynasty.

Apologies

..to Luke Maile. In March of this year, I wrote this about the Blue Jays backup catcher:

With Russell Martin entering his 13th season – and a great deal of wear and tear on his body – a solid backup catcher is needed to shoulder the load now more than ever. Luke Maile isn’t that guy.

Unbeknownst to me, Luke Maile played 2017 with a torn meniscus in his right knee. He had surgery in the off-season and has emerged in 2018 as a completely different player. Defensively, he calls a great game and fires absolute seeds to second base, striking fear into the hearts of would-be base stealers. Offensively, he’s no longer an automatic out. He even homered off Chris Sale. Chalk it up to ignorance on my part, and I apologize for making an ill-informed statement about Maile’s value. He’s a capable back-up catcher…so far, anyway.

Featured image credit: Chris So/Getty Images

]]>http://mopupduty.com/checking-in-on-the-toronto-blue-jays-052018/feed/0Forgotten Former Toronto Blue Jays: 2018 Editionhttp://mopupduty.com/forgotten-former-toronto-blue-jays-2018-edition-050118/
http://mopupduty.com/forgotten-former-toronto-blue-jays-2018-edition-050118/#respondTue, 01 May 2018 20:44:48 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=14598Six years ago I wrote a post profiling what some former Toronto Blue Jays players were doing in their baseball careers. It proved to be surprisingly popular, and still receives a substantial amount of traffic to this day. In the spirit of that post, here’s the 2018 version of Forgotten Former Toronto Blue Jays:

Jose Bautista

I suppose it’s not fair to label Jose Bautista as a “forgotten” former Blue Jay. After all, he is one of the franchise’s most iconic players. As Bautista spent the 2017/18 offseason in baseball’s purgatory, Blue Jays fans were keenly interested in where – or if – he would resume his baseball career.

That question was answered on April 18th when Bautista signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves. The goal is for Bautista to assume the full-time third baseman role, and should he do that, he will earn $1 million in salary. However, Bautista must first prove his mettle in the Braves’ minor league system. So far he hasn’t been impressive, though it does take time to get back to game speed – especially for older players.

Former teammate Kevin Pillar said that Bautista was “pissed off” for having to wait so long to sign. Hopefully that anger isn’t getting in the way of his ability to put up numbers, otherwise he may never get the chance to sign again.

Travis Snider

Former Blue Jays uber-prospect Travis Snider was in a similar situation to the aforementioned Jose Bautista this offseason. Unlike Bautista, Snider didn’t feel he could afford to bide his time and wait for a contract, so he signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League.

“There was a point in Toronto where you just become so self-consumed with how long are you going to last, when are you getting called up, when are you getting sent down, all these things that as human beings we experience in some way,” he says. “But I think there was just so much of it so quickly.

“And you could say, maybe I was rushed. But at the same time, if things would have gone a little bit differently and I would have handled them a little bit differently, we could be having a completely different conversation.”

The Atlantic League is widely regarded as the highest-level independent league in regards to the quality of baseball played. Snider feels it’s his best chance to return to affiliated baseball.

Esmil Rogers

The Blue Jays acquired starting pitcher Esmil Rogers from the Cleveland Indians in 2013 for Mike Aviles and the first Brazilian MLB player, Yan Gomes. Rogers did not pitch exceptionally well for the Blue Jays, and was designated for assignment early in the 2014 season so that Aaron Sanchez could be called up. He was most notable for having been nicknamed “Uncle Esmil” by Blue Jays broadcaster Mike Wilner.

It was fun while it lasted, Uncle Esmil. @JackCurryYES: The Yankees have claimed Esmil Rogers off waivers from the #BlueJays.

Esmil was claimed by the Yankees, but didn’t last long in pinstripes. He flamed out after the 2015 season and moved on to play baseball in Korea. He’s gotten himself into trouble for his “antics,” but has been pitching successfully for Nexen this year. He sits at #5 in the league with 40 strikeouts thus far.

Kyle Drabek

Kyle Drabek is most notable for being the centrepiece in the trade that sent Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phllies. The son of former Cy Young award winner Doug Drabek, Kyle was never able to capitalize on his considerable potential. Injuries derailed Drabek’s promising career; he was never the same after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in 2012.

Following an unsuccessful attempt to re-start his career as a shortstop in the San Francisco Giants system, Drabek signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League. Over 27 innings pitched, Drabek allowed seven home runs and finished the season with a 8.33 ERA.

Drabek signed this past offseason with the Puebla Pericos of the Mexican League. Over the course of two starts, Drabek pitched a total of two innings while allowing 11 earned runs and walking seven for an ERA of 49.50. He has been placed on the “reserve” list – it looks as though his career has come to an end.

Anthony Gose

Another prominent piece of the Roy Halladay trade – albeit indirectly – Anthony Gose has been trying to resurrect his baseball career as a fire-balling relief pitcher. The left-handed Gose has been able to reach triple digits with his fastball, though he has struggled mightily with his control.

The Texas Rangers signed Gose as a reclamation project this offseason, only to lose him to the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 draft. In Gose’s only spring training appearance, he walked all three batters he faced – prompting the Astros to return the reliever to the Rangers. In an attempt to extract whatever value they can from Gose, the Rangers are using him as a two-way player. However, it seems Gose has been assigned to extended spring training in order to focus on his pitching.

Henderson Alvarez

Former Blue Jay Henderson Alvarez was part of the trade that brought Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes to Toronto from Miami. Since leaving Toronto, Alvarez has been a league average pitcher, apart from a wild no-hitter.

Following shoulder surgery in 2016, Alvarez has seen a decline in his ‘stuff,’ resulting in a total of zero contract offers after a cup-of-coffee with the Phillies in 2017. The Quintana Roo Tigres of the Mexican League signed him and slotted him into their starting rotation. He’s had some success so far, and the 28-year old could find a comfortable home for himself in the Mexican League for years to come.

…it was announced that former Toronto Blue Jays manager Tim Johnson has signed on to manage the Algodoneros de San Luis of the Northern League of Mexico. The Algodoneros (Cottonmen) are based in San Luis Rio Colorado in the baseball hotbed province of Sonora, Mexico.

Johnson managed the Algodoneros well beyond expectations, earning a call-up to manage the Puebla Pericos of the Mexican League. Johnson took over the .500 Pericos and managed them to a 2nd place finish, a division playoff title, and a berth in the league final – all with a decimated roster.

The Quintana Roo Tigres were impressed so much with Johnson’s managerial style when his Pericos eliminated the Tigres in the playoffs that they offered him the top job for the 2018 season. Johnson’s Tigres are tied for second place so far this season.

The rest

Adam Lind: Following a season in which he hit .303 with a .875 OPS for the Washington Nationals, Adam Lind was signed to a minor-league deal by the New York Yankees in the spring. Two weeks later, he was released. A month after that, he signed again with the Yankees. He currently sports a 1.455 OPS for the Tampa Tarpons of the High-A level Florida State League.

Dustin McGowan: In 2017, Dustin McGowan pitched nearly 80 innings of mostly effective relief for the Miami Marlins. That earned the 35-year old a minor league deal with Tampa, who promptly released him after three one-inning outings in which he gave up two hits, struck out two and walked two. Although he was released, the Rays offered McGowan the opportunity to stay in camp to work out while he waited for possible contract offers. He is extremely respected by players and coaches alike for his perseverance; the Rays wanted to have McGowan’s work ethic and attitude influence the younger players in camp. In the end, McGowan was able to work out a minor-league deal with the Marlins. He is currently pitching in extended spring training.

Ricky Romero: It was reported in December that Ricky Romero was trying to make an MLB comeback. Since then… crickets. He’s apparently been working out on his own, but no word in the past five months as to how that is going. Stay tuned… maybe?

Brett Lawrie: The former Blue Jays third baseman last played an MLB game on July 21, 2016. Since then he’s been out of baseball with no apparent return in the near future. For more on Lawrie’s story, read this excellent piece by Jays Journal.

Player photos courtesy of MiLB.com, koreabaseball.com, and atlanticleague.com. Featured image photo credit: sciencing.com

]]>http://mopupduty.com/forgotten-former-toronto-blue-jays-2018-edition-050118/feed/0A Look at “Dog Day at the Ballpark” Promotionshttp://mopupduty.com/a-look-at-dog-day-at-the-ballpark-promotions-040818/
http://mopupduty.com/a-look-at-dog-day-at-the-ballpark-promotions-040818/#commentsSun, 08 Apr 2018 18:35:01 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=4839Two of my favourite things are baseball and dogs. So, it goes without saying that “Dog Day at the Ballpark” or “Bark in the Park” promotions in Major League Baseball are easily my favourite gimmick used to try to attract more fans to the ballpark. Let’s have a look at the history of these “Dog Days.”

With the trend of incorporating pets into everyday activities, it only makes sense to be able to bring your dog to the ballgame. Baseball games are a great way to have a family-friendly outing – why exclude an integral member of the family from participating?

The first instance of a bring-your-dog-to-the-ballpark-day was in August of 1996. The forward-thinking Chicago White Sox held a promotion called the “Dog Days of Summer.” It allowed fans to bring their canine companions and sit in the bleachers of New Comiskey Park. It quickly sold out and sold out well in advance of the season every year since then. The Montreal Expos got in on the dog-themed promotion in 1998 at Olympic Stadium, and the Minnesota Twins followed suit. Approximately 16 teams take part in the promotion, with the Pittsburgh Pirates having had up to eight dog days in any given season. Today, bring-your-dog-to-the-ballpark promotions have become as common as fireworks and bobbleheads as a means to draw fans to baseball games.

The Toronto Blue Jays began the practice of allowing dogs to attend a single game each season in 2003. Dog owners had to sign a waiver that stated their dog was in good health and that the owner of the dog would assume all responsibility for any damages that may incur during the game. An hour before game time, owners and their dogs were allowed to join a pre-game parade on the field with members of the Blue Jays organization and their dogs. Following the parade, dog owners and their companions were seated in the “Dog Zone” – a specific section in the level 100 outfield.

Former Toronto Blue Jay Reed Johnson & his dog Shooter

The best part? The funds raised from the Dog Day promotion were donated to the Ontario SPCA to support their lifesaving work, which includes rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption services for the countless animals that come into their shelters in need of care and hope every year.

For some inexplicable reason, the promotion quietly discontinued following the 2010 season. You are no longer able to bring your dog to a Blue Jays game. Hopefully this is something that Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro can remedy by incorporating a permanent dog section in his plan to renovate the Rogers Centre. Is that too much to ask?

Curious to know what it was like to bring your dog to the ‘Dome? Below is a first person account of what you could expect at the Jays’ Dog Day from writer Glen Hodgson:

A Jack Russel heckles the Blue Jays bullpen

Like the Blue Jays’ Dog Day, most other dog days include the opportunity for dogs to take their owner-fans on the field, with doggy treat bags and special grass areas for rest breaks included. Season ticket owners who aren’t down with dogs are offered alternative seating for the game. At San Diego’s Petco Park, up to 500 dogs are accommodated in their annual Dog Day promotion, which includes a pre-game “Tail” Gate party.

While the Chicago Cubs don’t allow dogs in Wrigley Field, fans have the option of taking their dogs to “Wiggly” Field – a dog park not far from the Cubs’ home.

Watching a baseball game with one hand on a leash can be distracting – but that’s not really the point. The experience is mean to be fun and bonding – no matter how big or small your family is. It’s also a way to attract new fans to the game. Attendance-hungry minor league baseball teams have embraced the promotion:

Dogs are invited to Wednesday night home games of the Colorado Springs SkySox of the Pacific Coast League. They get to lounge in a grassy area along the third-base line and check out canine-themed exhibits known as Puppypalooza. The Sox, the Colorado Rockies’ Class AAA affiliate, started Bark in the Park nine years ago. At first, Rai Henniger, the team’s senior vice president for marketing and promotions, said that he thought he would have to bring in ”world-class Frisbee dogs” for every game. ”People liked that, but all they really cared about was going to the game with their best friend.”source

For a Dog Day promotion in Detroit, the Tigers brought Milt Wilcox, a former pitcher from the 1984 World Series team who has a black lab named Sparky, onto the field to entertain the crowd with agility-based tricks. Sparky the black lab is, of course, named after former Detroit manager Sparky Anderson.

A Schnauzer and friend take in a St. Louis Cardinals game. Photo credit: Tom Gannam/AP

There is some red tape that the dogs must pass through before being admitted to the ballpark. Dogs generally must be a minimum of six months old to attend the ballgame. Also, owners must present a copy of their dog’s current vaccinations from a licensed veterinarian before the game or admittance will be denied All dogs must wear an ID tag to the game and must be socialized enough to interact with people and other dogs. That being said, teams do their best to accommodate their special-needs fan-base. Fireworks are omitted to celebrate homeruns. Instead, pre-recorded bark tracks are played to mark the occasion. A veterinarian is usually in attendance in case of emergency.

The San Francisco Giants held their annual “Dog Days of Summer” promotion for the 24th year in a row last year. It typically occurs in August to coincide with the consensus beginning of the “dog days” of summer. The promotion includes a pre-game parade and San Francisco Giants-branded leash.

The Florida Marlins respect the free-spirited canine contingent by having no restrictions to one specific section – you will find them sniffing and socializing all over the ballpark. The Atlanta Braves promotion is known as “The Bark in the Park Event,” with tickets costing $25. Admission includes one dog and one human. Taking place annually since 2006, the promotion is one of the largest, attracting 5,200 fans and 2,600 dogs every year.

Besides being a fun day at the ballpark and an opportunity to bond with man’s best friend, proceeds for every “Dog Day” event go directly to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Humane Society, or another dog-centric charity.

]]>http://mopupduty.com/a-look-at-dog-day-at-the-ballpark-promotions-040818/feed/6Baseball in Mexicohttp://mopupduty.com/baseball-in-mexico-040618/
http://mopupduty.com/baseball-in-mexico-040618/#commentsFri, 06 Apr 2018 15:55:52 +0000http://mopupduty.com/index.php/mexican-baseball/I originally wrote this post in February of 2007. In the 11 years that have passed, much has changed in regard to baseball in Mexico. I’ve edited and refreshed the original post to reflect a more contemporary view of Mexican baseball.

Mexico’s baseball roots can be traced back to approximately 1847. American soldiers in the Mexican-American War introduced Mexicans to the game of baseball in the various regions in which they were stationed. The laying of track for the railroad – specifically the Monterrey-Tampico railway – played a large part in the spread of baseball throughout the country, specifically northern Mexico. Colonel Joseph Robertson, who was from Tennessee and once served under General Robert E. Lee, introduced the game in Nuevo Leon when he granted his railroad workers a holiday on the fourth of July in 1889. Robertson and his workers celebrated American Independence Day by playing baseball.

The first organized Mexican League was formed in 1925 by Jorge Pasquel. Pasquel had Major League ambitions and stocked his teams with Negro League stars. Furthermore, Pasquel raided Major League players following World War II when returning soldiers created a surplus of skilled players. Most of these defector players (a total of 23) joined the Quebec Provincial League soon after and Pasquel had to fold the league due to financial insolvency in 1953. In 1955 the Mexican League resurfaced, this time as a Double-A level minor league. The league reorganized yet again in 1967 as a Triple-A level league and continues to this day as the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB), also known as “The Mexican League.”

El Salto Durango Team, 1959

The LMB/Mexican League is composed of 16 teams, divided equally among 2 divisions: the North Zone and the South Zone. Although Mexican League teams are not affiliated with teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), the league itself is affiliated with – and governed by – Minor League Baseball (MiLB). When the Mexican League decided to adopt an unorthodox playoff format which features two league champions each season (more on that below), this new format required approval from MiLB’s President & CEO, Pat O’Conner. If Mexican League players are signed by an MLB team, they must pay their Mexican League team a large portion of the signing bonus or initial contract, similar to the posting system in Japan.

Attendance at professional baseball games in Mexico has been increasing steadily. In its heyday in 1979, the Mexican League drew 4.6 million fans. From 1998 – 2003, attendance fell flat, averaging approximately 2.3 million tickets sold each year as soccer ticket sales rose 27 per cent in the same period, to more than 4.9 million annually. As Mexicans became more affluent, they spent more on soccer than ever before. However, that trend is beginning to reverse. The Mexican League nearly matched their 1979 high, having sold slightly more than 4 million tickets in 2017, despite losing many dates to an extraordinarily active hurricane season. Total attendance has topped 3 million in all but one season since 2003. Although attendance numbers are healthy, at least half of Mexican League teams are bordering on bankruptcy and off-season franchise relocations are common.

Even though Mexico is home to one of the largest cities in the world – Mexico City – the largest market in the Mexican League belongs to Monterrey. Their home opener drew 30,000 fans and they average nearly 12,000 per game. Mexico City, a metropolis of 21 million people, has four pro soccer teams but only one baseball team: the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils). The team used to play in Foro Sol, a stadium wedged into a corner of the Hermanos Rodriguez race car track. It was less than ideal. The Diablos Rojos then moved to a temporary home, Estadio Fray Nano, while a sparkling new $60 million ballpark was being built for them. While it was set to open in 2017, construction delays due to a major earthquake have postponed its unveiling until 2019. The team currently draws an average of 4,000 fans to Fray Nano, a ballpark with a maximum capacity of 5,200 fans. Soccer remains the most popular sport in the nation’s capital.

Logos of the Mexico City Diablos Rojos and Quintana Roo Tigres

Mexico City was once home to a second team, the Tigres, and their storied rivalry with the Diablos Rojos was much like that of the Yankees and Red Sox. Just as the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in Scottish Football is known as the Old Firm, Mexicans have named the rivalry between Tigres and Diablos Rojos the Guerra Civil (Civil War). Sadly, the Tigres moved to Puebla soon after their home ballpark, Social Security Park, closed in 2001. The Tigres are currently based in Cancun, and have been quite successful the past few seasons – at least in the standings. The rivalry between Tigres and Diablos Rojos remains, although it’s not what it once was.

In addition to the Mexican League, Mexico has another Triple-A level league: the Liga Mexicana del Paci­fico (LMP), also known as the Mexican Pacific League. Unlike the LMB, the LMP is unaffiliated with Major League Baseball. While the Mexican League plays in the summer, the Mexican Pacific League is strictly a winter league. At the end of the season, the winner of the league’s playoff moves on to represent Mexico in the Caribbean Series. The LMP has a total of eight clubs that play a 68 game regular season schedule beginning the second week of October and concluding in December. The rosters feature a mix of Mexican League veterans, minor league lifers, injury rehabbers, and a few top prospects.

While the Mexican Soccer Federation has cultivated its sport nationwide, baseball remains a regional game. More than a quarter of the Mexican Baseball League’s 445 players come from one state, Sinaloa, with another 20 per cent coming from neighbouring Sonora. The Mexican Pacific League is based in these regions, and as a result are able to draw on the considerable talent and baseball-crazy fans. these regions produce While Mexican League teams struggle to attract 5,000 fans per game, the Mexican Pacific League has a robust average of 10,000 fans per game league-wide.

League roster limits: 28, with no more than eight imports. While American imports used to be the norm, many Cubans – having recently defected – are beginning to seek residency in Mexico. As a result, Cubans appear on rosters in greater numbers.

Playoff system: Two separate 66 game schedules followed by playoffs. Two champions are awarded each season.

League roster limits: 29, with no more than 12 imports for the 2018-19 season and beyond

Playoff system: The season is split into two halves with teams awarded points for their standing at the end of each. The top six teams battle it out in three rounds, each round being a best-of-seven series. The winner goes on to represent Mexico at the Caribbean Series (and is also allowed to poach a substantial number of the best players from other teams as “reinforcements” for their roster).

Mexican Pacific League Teams:

Aguilas de Mexicali (Mexicali Eagles)
Cañeros de Los Mochis (Los Mochis Sugarcane-growers)
Charros de Jalisco (Jalisco Horsemen)
Mayos de Navojoa (Navojoa Mayos) *The Mayos are an indigenous people native to the area
Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Hermosillo Orange-growers)
Tomateros de Culiacan (Culiacan Tomato-growers)
Venados de Mazatlan (Mazatlan Deer)
Yaquis de Obregon (Obregon Yaquis) *The Yaquis are an indigenous people native to the area

Mexican baseball fans

As previously mentioned, the Tigres de Quintana Roo have been in Cancun since 2007 after having moved from Angelopolis. Cancun has already had one team fail (the Lobstermen in 2005) but the Tigres have been able to hang on for more than 10 years now, having won championships in 2011, 2013, and 2015. In spite of their success on the field, the team has consistently struggled at the gate. Former Major League pitcher Fernando Valenzuela purchased the team in 2017, but has not yet been able to increase attendance.

Fernando Valenzuela poses with the hat of the Quintana Roo Tigres

I attended a Quintana Roo Tigres game not long after their initial move to Cancun in 2007. My review of the experience can be found here. It was really quite a lot of fun. The current manager of the Tigres is none other than former Toronto Blue Jays manager Tim Johnson, who parlayed a successful stint in lower-level Mexican baseball to the top job of the second-most successful franchise in Mexico.

There are currently 10 Mexican-born players on Major League rosters, including the Toronto Blue Jays’ very own Roberto Osuna and Jaime Garcia. Although there are no Mexican-born players in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Hector Espino and Beto “Bobby” Avila are notable players from the past.

One other noteworthy item: the Mexican League is home to one of the prettiest ballparks in all of minor league baseball. Home to the Oaxaca Guerreros, Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium opened in 1950 as the sports field for the local university. It has since been renovated. It’s not much to look at from the outside, but inside it is an absolute jewel, with views of the surrounding valleys and green mountains (I might be too generous in calling them that, but here we are). The stadium played host to the league’s All-Star Game in 2013. Our friend Craig Robinson of Flip Flop Fly Ball was in attendance and offered a review of the game.

Want to know more? For the best Mexican baseball coverage in English, make sure to check out Bruce Baskin’s excellent blog, Baseball Mexico.

Featured image credit: MLB.com

]]>http://mopupduty.com/baseball-in-mexico-040618/feed/10Revisiting My Toronto Blue Jays 2018 Lineup Projectionhttp://mopupduty.com/revisiting-my-toronto-blue-jays-2018-lineup-projection-040218/
http://mopupduty.com/revisiting-my-toronto-blue-jays-2018-lineup-projection-040218/#respondMon, 02 Apr 2018 09:58:43 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=14466At the beginning of spring training I consulted my crystal ball to see what lineup the Blue Jays would run out onto the field for the home opener. The projection ended up being pretty close to what materialized.

As for the starting nine, the only real surprise was wily manager John Gibbons’ decision to bat Curtis Granderson in the clean-up position the first few games, and then Yangervis Solarte. Gibbons is nothing if not unpredictable. As expected, Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the 60-day disabled list due to bone spurs. Aledmys Diaz has filled in at the shortstop position. Diaz isn’t particularly good defensively, and as Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins commented, “Diaz must do his part with the bat or someone else will get a shot.” That someone isn’t going to be Gift Ngoepe. As much as I love the guy – and I’m thrilled he made the opening day roster – he’s been over-matched and outclassed by major league pitching. If Diaz flounders, I expect to see Lourdes Gurriel – currently being groomed for a super-sub role in the mould of Ben Zobrist – before the much-ballyhooed Bo Bichette gets a shot:

If Troy Tulowitzki’s creaky body takes much longer to heal than anticipated, Lourdes Gurriel may make an appearance. If I’m not mistaken, Gurriel’s contract isn’t subject to the same service time issues as most minor leaguers because he signed as a free agent, though he may still be able to opt into arbitration. I don’t think Richard Ureña is an MLB calibre player; he’s minor league roster filler.– Projecting The Toronto Blue Jays’ 2018 Lineup

Although Josh Donaldson started the game at third base, his alarming wet noodle of a right arm has forced John Gibbons to move him to the DH role; Yangervis Solarte will see time at the hot corner until Donaldson is able to remedy what ails him.

Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

The veteran J.A. Happ received the nod for the opening day start because of Marcus Stroman’s early-spring shoulder inflammation, and the fact that the Blue Jays likely didn’t want to put too much “pressure” on Aaron Sanchez, having just recovered from blister issues. It turns out that it didn’t really matter who gets the start, as the Blue Jays were only able to muster a single run in the game. So the rotation looks like this: Happ – Sanchez – Estrada – Stroman – Garcia. We may see a slight shuffle during the season to break up the two left-handed starters, Garcia and Happ.

The bullpen – the only real area of uncertainty for the team during the spring – turned out how I projected it, more or less. I thought there would be a spot here for Carlos Ramirez, but he dealt with a shoulder injury for most of the spring and never really got a chance to prove himself. Unfortunately for Ramirez, he has minor league options remaining on his contract, so he was sent to Buffalo. Fortunately for the Blue Jays, non-roster invitee John Axford was dominant during his spring showcase, regularly flashing a fastball at 97mph. Axford made the bullpen and made an appearance on opening day, though he looked amped-up and quite nervous to be pitching in front of the sizable hometown crowd – he uncorked multiple wild pitches to Russell Martin during his warm-up. I anticipate Axford will be adequate now that he’s got the first-game jitters out of the way. It’s easy to forget that baseball players are human, just like us. Late spring free-agent signing Tyler Clippard rounds out the ‘pen. Bullpens are constantly in a state of flux, so one or more of these pieces may land on the disabled list or flame out altogether and be replaced by options internally. They include the aforementioned Carlos Ramirez as well as Luis Santos, Tim Mayza, Sam Moll, Al Alburquerque and maybe even Joe Biagini.

Where do we go from here?

We don’t know who, when, or how, but it’s coming – an injury to a member of the starting rotation. The pool of starting pitching depth took a hit when Thomas Pannone was suspended for 80 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The Joe Biagini-as-emergency-starter-plan came to fruition; he’ll be the first option called up from Buffalo when injury strikes. It’s not going to be good, but might be slightly better than Mat Latos last season. Deck McGuire, Taylor Guerreri, Sam Gaviglio, and Ryan Borucki are also in the mix.

As much fun as it was to see Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. in the spring, they’ve never played above high-A baseball. They’re scheduled to start the 2018 season at Double-A New Hampshire. These young men still need many reps and valuable baseball experience that the minor leagues provide before they are ready to play at baseball’s highest level. We will not see them playing at the Rogers Centre in 2018.

We will, hopefully, see the likes to Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Alford again – though probably not at the same time.

Thankfully the Blue Jays do not have to play the New York Yankees every game. Assuming that Josh Donaldson returns to health and nothing catastrophic happens, this team is likely going to win in the neighbourhood of 81 games. While the Blue Jays’ starting rotation is among the best in baseball, the suspect offense, fragile infield defense, and patchwork bullpen are not where they need to be. An 81-win team is not good enough to snag a wild-card playoff berth, and not bad enough to net any high picks in the draft. Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro once said, “As we deliberate on the different strategies and the different directions to go, we feel an obligation to try to field a contending, competitive team and at such a time we feel that is not possible, we will pivot.” Will this be the year of the pivot?

]]>http://mopupduty.com/revisiting-my-toronto-blue-jays-2018-lineup-projection-040218/feed/0The Difference Between Stroman’s Theatrics and Bat Flipshttp://mopupduty.com/the-difference-between-stromans-mound-theatrics-and-bat-flips-032718/
http://mopupduty.com/the-difference-between-stromans-mound-theatrics-and-bat-flips-032718/#commentsTue, 27 Mar 2018 19:24:33 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=14450Last night in Montreal, the Blue Jays were closing out their spring schedule with a two-game set vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. Marcus Stroman made his final spring start in preparation for the regular season.

The pitcher – who has described himself as emotional – was in fine form, pitching 4.2 innings and striking out six. But when it comes to theatrics, Stroman was in mid-season form. Case in point: a Tommy Pham at-bat in the top of the fourth inning:

“In the top of the fourth inning during the Blue Jays’ spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Stroman struck out centre-fielder Tommy Pham on three pitches, hopping off the mound as home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater signalled the out.

Pham took exception to the action and stared Stroman down on his slow walk back to the dugout.”

Hitters taking exception to the Stro-show is nothing new.

Tim Anderson, a 24-year-old in his second major-league season … said he felt disrespected by Stroman. “Just the way he carried himself, I felt like I felt disrespected,” Anderson told reporters, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.source

“There’s no reason for it, it’s an unsportsmanlike way to behave. You just dominated somebody. Just high five your teammates and go back in the clubhouse and celebrate. I don’t understand why the jumping around, the flashy, the showboating, the rubbing it in people’s face.”source

(Chase) Headley went on to specifically say that Stroman “was friggin screaming at our guys when he’s pitching, yelling at our guys to get off the field when he’d strike someone out.”source

I am in complete agreement with Blue Jays manager John Gibbons when he says:

“The game’s changed. Baseball used to be a real conservative game. You didn’t step out of line, you didn’t celebrate anything, there was a tremendous amount of respect that was thrown around. But baseball has really changed like every other sport, like society, and I think the fans love it. It’s promoted on TV and things like that and I think a lot of that is good for the game.”source

With all that said, it does seem like I have opposing viewpoints on celebrating on the mound and celebrating in the batter’s box. How I can be against Stroman’s post-strikeout celebrations but be in favour of gratuitous bat flips? The answer lies in the frequency of each event.

Home runs are, generally speaking, a rare occurrence in baseball. Notorious bat-flipper Yasiel Puig hit 28 home runs last season – a career high. In 2017, it took Marcus Stroman all of five starts to reach that many strikeouts. He finished the season with 164 strikeouts, about as many hits as the average major league position player accumulates over the course of a season.

Puig had 28 total chances in 2017 to celebrate a home run with a bat flip. When you take into consideration that he probably wouldn’t flip his bat in a celebratory fashion when his team is down 9-1 or up 9-1 (though I wouldn’t put it past him), those opportunities to fling his bat into the sky like a toothpick decline even further. For Puig to be able to celebrate a personal victory as much as Stroman does, he would have to bat-flip every time he managed a hit or a walk. Bat flipping on a single gets old very, very quickly – and you won’t see too many pitchers shrug off a bat-flip from an opposing batter who just stroked a ground ball single.

A parallel can be drawn with other sports. In the NFL, celebrating and choreographed dancing is reserved for touchdown celebrations. Very rarely – if ever – will you see a football player shimmy, shake, and hop around after a play that nets a six yard gain. In soccer, it’s acceptable for a player to tear off his shirt and slide all over the pitch following a goal because they are so rare and meaningful. You will not, however, see a player scream and fist-pump after executing a successful pass to a teammate.

I’m all for Stroman expressing himself in the manner to which he has grown accustomed, as long as the situation warrants it. A complete game shutout? Sure, go nuts! Getting out of a bases loaded jam? Have at it. Win a big playoff game? ~*Dance like no one’s watching*~

Even the emotionless Roy Halladay cut loose after winning his league-leading 22nd game. But you would never see him scream and fist-pump after striking out an opposing batter in a spring training game. Showing up the opposition by celebrating a personal victory that occurs, on average, seven times per game for Marcus Stroman… it’s superfluous and veers into the realm of poor sportsmanship. By all means, have fun and be yourself. But save the theatrics for when it actually means something.

Featured image screencap from Rogers Sportsnet’s broadcase of the game. All animated gifs courtesy of MLB.com

]]>http://mopupduty.com/the-difference-between-stromans-mound-theatrics-and-bat-flips-032718/feed/5The Best 15 Minor League Baseball Team Nameshttp://mopupduty.com/best-15-minor-league-baseball-names-032618/
http://mopupduty.com/best-15-minor-league-baseball-names-032618/#respondMon, 26 Mar 2018 09:55:19 +0000http://mopupduty.com/?p=14400Last week, Minor League Baseball unveiled the alter-egos of the 33 teams participating in the “Copa de la Diversión” (aka the “Fun Cup”). The Copa de la Diversión is a season-long event that aims to celebrate the diversity that defines MiLB, and to engage with hispanic fans in particular. For each designated “Copa de la Diversión” game, opposing teams will wear special jerseys and caps befitting their alternate personas. Some of these team names are extraordinarily creative. There’s the Chesapeake Cangrejos Fantasmas (ghost crabs), the New Mexico Mariachis, Corpus Christi Snow Cones, and the San Bernardino Cucuys (Cucuy loosely translates to “boogeyman”).

This event made me think of all the terrific names of Minor League baseball teams that exist in affiliated baseball and beyond. Below are my top 15 Minor League baseball team names. If you have your own personal favourites, please feel free to share them in the comments section.

1. Montgomery Biscuits

While most sports teams try to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents with intimidating names such as Giants or Warriors or Thrashers, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays decided to go against the grain. When I first heard that the logo for a Minor League baseball team was a buttered biscuit, I knew it would forever be my favourite team name. The Montgomery Biscuits were the first team to sell biscuits at their ballpark, and they average approximately 30,000 biscuits sold per season. Biscuits are even launched into the crowd between innings. There’s even a documentary feature on the team’s mascot, Monty the Biscuit.

2. New Orleans Baby Cakes

Formerly the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Baby Cakes are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. Following a “name the team” contest in 2016, Baby Cakes was chosen as the new team name and a full re-brand was implemented for the 2017 season. To promote the re-brand, it was announced that any child born in the state of Louisiana in 2017 was eligible for a free lifetime pass to Baby Cakes games. Although the Baby Cakes are an affiliate of the Marlins, they have an exquisite alternate jersey that pays tribute to the late-70s jersey of the Houston Astros.

3. Hartford Yard Goats

Goats have a special place in my heart. As the New York Times says, “goats are hot these days.” Capitalizing on the goat zeitgeist, the New Britain Rock Cats relocated to Hartford, Connecticut and re-branded themselves the “Yard Goats.” The Yard Goats finished second in the league in total attendance in only their first season. Well played, Yard Goats. The Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Yard Goats play in the sparkling new Dunkin Donuts ballpark – a jewel in downtown Hartford. Like the Baby Cakes before them, Hartford came to be the Yard Goats through a “name the team” contest. It just goes to show, you can’t go wrong when it comes to letting fans decide on the name of your franchise.

4. Bakersfield Train Robbers

The little-known Bakersfield Train Robbers are a team in the Pecos League, an independent baseball league not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Formerly the Bakersfield Blaze of the Cal League, the Train Robbers moved to the Pecos League and began play in 2017. The Train Robbers’ home ballpark is the only ballpark in professional baseball that faces west; as a result of this abnormal configuration, games can only be played after the sun sets. Otherwise the sun would be directly in the eyes of hitters. Why is Bakersfield named the Train Robbers? The team was actually founded in Las Vegas, New Mexico (not the one in Nevada) which was said to be the most crime-ridden of the old wild west towns.

5. Albuquerque Isotopes

As a fan of the television show The Simpsons, the Albuquerque Isotopes will always hold a special place in my heart. The ‘Topes feature prominently in two memorable Simpsons episodes: Dancin’Homer and Hungry, Hungry Homer. Like most Simpsons episodes, these two are extremely quotable and have been burned deep within my psyche. The real-life Isotopes are the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and came to be thanks to a vote administered by the Albuquerque Tribune. The Isotopes took 67% of the 120,000 votes cast. While the name did come directly from The Simpsons series, New Mexico is home to a number of nuclear technology facilities. Go ‘Topes!

6. Binghamton Rumble Ponies

What is a ‘Rumble Pony’? It’s actually a tribute to carousel horses. Binghamton, New York is known as the “Carousel Capital of the World.” Of the 170 antique carousels remaining in the world, the city of Binghamton lays claim to six. The Rumble Ponies are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets and were once managed by former Met (and current Toronto Blue Jay) John Gibbons, who guided the team to a second place finish in 1998.

7. Akron Rubber Ducks

Have you ever seen a rubber duck look so fierce? The Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the Akron Rubber Ducks received their moniker for Akron’s rich history in the rubber industry. Akron is the birthplace of tire companies Firestone, Goodrich, General Tire, and Goodyear.

8. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Formerly the Jacksonville Suns, the team followed the trend of gimmicky Minor League re-brands in 2017 by becoming the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The re-brand wasn’t entirely well received – Jacksonville has a passionate fan base and a rich baseball history that dates back to 1904. Currently the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, Jacksonville was once the Double-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos and was home to the Jacksonville Red Caps of the Negro Leagues. The current franchise was originally founded in 1962 as the Havana Cuba Sugar Kings before becoming the Jacksonville Suns (with a brief stop in Jersey City). In regard to the team logo itself, team owner Ken Babby describes it as “a gritty, tough, hard-working shrimp. The word that probably best describes it is tenacious.”

9. Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are yet another example of what happens when Minor League teams run “name the team” contests. Following the 2009 season, the Connecticut Defenders relocated to Richmond, Virginia and were re-branded the Flying Squirrels – a name which beat out competing entries, including the Hambones, Hush Puppies, Rock Hoppers, Flatheads, and Rhinos. The team’s logo was named logo of the year by Ballpark Digest in 2010 and the best Minor League logo by Baseball America in 2015. The Blue Jays’ Joe Biagini is a former Flying Squirrel. Also, flying squirrels actually do call Virginia home.

10. Columbia Fireflies

Who doesn’t love fireflies? On hot summer nights in June, July, and August, I enjoy sitting on my back deck and watch as my backyard fills with these captivating insects. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, the Fireflies are the single-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Formerly the Savannah Sand Gnats (another great name!) the team has been playing in Columbia since the 2016 season. Yet another public contest was used to determine the team name. Parts of the Fireflies’ uniform actually glow in the dark!

11. Hickory Crawdads

The Hickory Crawdads are the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Reminiscent of the Cancun Lobstermen before them, this crustacean-themed team has two mascots: Conrad and Candy Crawdad, who also happen to be romantically involved. The ponds, rivers, and streams of Hickory, North Carolina have been home to crawdads – a freshwater crayfish – for thousands of years. When baseball season is over, crayfish have been known to burrow up to three meters deep into the sandy riverbeds – much like I do when there is no more baseball. Formerly the Gastonia Rangers, Hickory became the Crawdads due to year another “name that team” contest. The Crawdads moniker beat out the Rivercats, Hound Dogs, Woodchucks, and Valleycats. Notable alumni include former Toronto Blue Jays José Bautista and Rajai Davis.

Conrad & Candy Crawdad

12. Traverse City Beach Bums

The Traverse City Beach Bums are a member of the independent Frontier League. Traverse City is located on the Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan’s most popular resort area and target of sun-seeking tourists during the summer months – hence the name “Beach Bums.” The official team colours of blue and gold represent the water and the summer’s rays of sunshine. Like the Crawdads, the Beach Bums have two official mascots: black bears named “Suntan” and “Sunburn.”

13. Brujos de los Tuxtlas

Playing in the low-level independent Veracruz Winter League in Mexico, the Los Tuxtlas Brujos are based in San Andrés Tuxtla, on the slope of a volcano. A brujo can be translated and interpreted in a myriad of ways; usually it means a sorcerer, wizard, shaman, or witchdoctor. Judging from the logo, it looks like Los Tuxtlas have embraced the witch in witchdoctor. For a team whose home ballpark lies on the slope of a volcano, it can’t hurt to curry favour with the supernatural. Karim Garcia, a Mop-Up Duty favourite, signed with the Brujos in 2015. There is no truth to the rumour that their uniform sleeves hang low like a wizard’s do.

14. Winnipeg Goldeyes

Now for a little Canadian content. Not to be confused with the ubiquitious PlayStation game of the late 1990s, the Winnipeg Goldeyes have played in the independent American Association since 2011. The Goldeyes are the reigning American Association champions, having won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. A Winnipeg Goldeye is a freshwater fish commonly served as a smoky delicacy and can be found in Lake Winnipeg and surrounding slow-moving rivers. The most notable Winnipeg Goldeyes’ alumnus is Hall-of-Fame left-hander Steve Carlton.

15. Brevard Manatees

I’m cheating a little bit with this one, since the Brevard County Manatees are no longer in existence. Fortunately, real manatees – the gentle giants native to Florida’s Gulf Coast and Caribbean Sea – do still exist (and were removed from the endangered species list in 2017). Last season the Manatees moved from Brevard County to Kissimmee, Florida to become the Fire Frogs – a great Minor League team name in its own right. Before moving to Kissimmee, the Manatees were the single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Actual manatees are genetically more similar to elephants than anything that lives in the ocean. Also known as sea cows, manatees feed on sea grass, mangrove leaves, and algae. Manatees have no known natural predators in the wild – alligators will actually get out of a manatee’s way when nudged by one – but half of all manatee deaths are caused by humans, mostly due to boat collisions. You can help manatees, if you are so inclined, by “adopting” one through the World Wildlife Federation. Real manatees don’t have the option of picking up and moving to Kissimmee when the going gets tough.

The best Copa de la Diversión team names

The Copa de la Diversión team names were specifically chosen to reflect aspects of hispanic culture and values that resonate most with baseball fans in American Latino communities. You’ll notice that more than a few team names are quite macabre – this is undoubtedly a nod to the Mexican Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Below are a selection of my favourites, with a short description of the significance of each team name (you’ll definitely want to know why a team named themselves the “flying sandals”).

Chesapeake Cangrejos Fantasmas (Ghost Crabs)

The Bowie Baysox adopted the Ghost Crabs moniker due to their proximity to Chesapeake Bay and its lucrative crab fishing industry. The Atlantic Ghost Crab is a sand coloured crab with bright white claws, making it stand out against all of the other lowly crabs. The team’s logo features a crab covered in a white sheet, befitting only the spookiest of crabs.

Corpus Christi Raspas (Snow Cones)

It can get hot in Corpus Christi, and the best way to beat the heat is with a snow cone. Only a two hour drive from the Mexican border, snow cones in Corpus Christi have been influenced by their southern neighbour, with popular flavours included horchata and dulce de leche.

El Paso Chihuahuas

If a dog exists that has more fierceness per pound of body weight than the Chihuahua, I haven’t heard of it.

Eugene Monarcas (Monarch Butterflies)

What a good looking logo! The Euguene Emeralds pay tribute to the spectacular annual migration of monarch butterflies from southern Canada and the United States to Mexico with their team name.

Everett Conquistadores (Conquerors)

The Everett Aquasox’s choice of “Conquistadores” is a strange one. The team states that it’s in reference to the exploration of the Pacific Northwest by Spanish explorer Juan Perez. I don’t know about you, but when I think of a Conquistador, I think of Hernán Cortés. Cortés was a Spanish explorer who was responsible for the death of countless Aztecs. At least they got one thing right: the logo features a serpentine head, befitting a cold-blooded, merciless Conquistador.

Las Vegas Reyes de Plata (Kings of Silver/Silver Miners)

The former Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays – the Las Vegas 51s – pay homage to the migrant silver miners that gave Nevada its “Silver State” nickname.

New Mexico Mariachis

There’s nothing quite like Mariachi music. Intimately woven into Mexico’s cultural fabric, Mariachi music instantly gets the party live. Mariachi music and baseball go together like beer and nachos, as I learned when I attended a Mexican League game. The sugar skull in the logo pays homage to the importance of Dia de los Muertos in Mexican culture. For more on Mariachis and Dia de los Muertos, the movie Coco is a good primer.

Round Rock Chupacabras

The mysterious Chupacabra (spanish for “goat sucker”) was apparently first spotted in Puerto Rico, and then the southern U.S. and Mexico. This canine-like, bloodsucking creature has always evaded capture due to the fact that it’s only an urban legend.

San Antonio Flying Chanclas (Flying Sandals)

On the surface, a flying sandal doesn’t seem to be that intimidating. Yet in Mexico, as well as the rest of Latin America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries, a flying sandal strikes fear into the hearts of many. Why? Growing up, it was common for an abuela (grandmother) to discipline her grandchildren by removing her chancla (sandal) and throwing it with extreme precision. Abuelas in hispanic countries are known to be able to throw chanclas with the velocity of a Nolan Ryan fastball and the pinpoint accuracy of Greg Maddux. San Antonio chose this name to honour the traditional matriarch of the Latino family as a symbol of love, strength, and of course, discipline.